Scope and Content Note
Each bill of lading gives name of boat; date of shipment; name of consignee for each shipment of goods; description of articles shipped; and value of same.
The forms used are those of private shippers, and there is a wide variety of billheads. The bills of lading are usually accompanied by clearances issued by the toll collector, which list articles shipped; where from; where bound; weight; miles traveled; and tolls charged for each group of articles shipped.
The form of the bill of lading was specified in a law of 1827; another act of the same year governed the issuance of clearances by the toll collectors, and required filing of copies with the state comptroller. The clearances from 1842 and later lack the bills of lading found in the earlier ones. Most of the documents in this series predate 1840.
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